Hindu Student and Assistant Priest Abducted, Tortured for Ransom in Dhaka

Dhaka, 1 July 2026: A 25-year-old Hindu student and part-time assistant priest has allegedly been abducted, tortured, and forced to pay ransom after being taken from the Wari area of Bangladesh’s capital, according to police and family accounts reported in local media.

The victim, Subhash Deuri, is a first-year student at Central Law College in Old Dhaka. He also occasionally serves as an assistant priest at the central temple of Jagannath University during religious ceremonies in the absence of the permanent priest.

Police said Deuri is currently undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital after sustaining injuries during the incident. An investigation has been launched.

According to the victim’s family, Deuri was abducted around 8:00 pm on Monday after arriving in the Swamibagh area by rickshaw. The family claims he was taken by unidentified individuals and later confined.

His relatives said that around 1:00 am on Tuesday, they received a call from his mobile phone. An unknown person allegedly demanded 30,000 Bangladeshi taka as ransom. The family further claimed that after 26,000 taka was transferred to an account provided by the abductors, Deuri was later abandoned on a street in Old Dhaka.

He was reportedly found injured and later admitted to hospital with fractures to his leg and hip. Doctors have indicated that surgery may be required.

Mofizur Rahman, Officer-in-Charge of Wari Police Station, told local media that the victim stated he had visited a temple in Swamibagh on Monday night when he was allegedly abducted and taken to a house where he was confined.

He further stated that Deuri later escaped by jumping from a building early in the morning, sustaining injuries in the process. Police said the matter is under active investigation.

Officials of the Jagannath University central temple committee clarified that Deuri is not a permanent priest at the institution.

“He is not our permanent priest. He occasionally assists in religious rituals in the absence of the appointed priest,” said Anik Kumar Das, member secretary of the committee. He added that the incident has no formal connection to the university temple.

Representatives of the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council said they are monitoring the situation and trying to verify the details, including whether the incident was a case of robbery or targeted violence.

Deuri is originally from Magura district in Khulna Division and resides in Dhaka with a friend in a rented apartment, according to local reports. Police have not yet confirmed whether the incident was motivated by religious identity or other factors.

Authorities say investigations are ongoing and further details will be released as they become available.